http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 v Sri Lanka – Commonwealth Bank series (9th ODI) – Innings Report – Australia post a total of 280 for 6
Peter Forrest's impressive maiden century guided Australia to a daunting 280 for 6 against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 in the 9th match of the Commonwealth Bank series, at the Bellerive Oval, Hobart today on February 24.
Despite a shaky start to innings, the middle order managed to rally the team as the hosts went on to register a more than adequate total on the board, which apart from Forrest’s imposing ton, further included a defiant half-century knock from skipper, Michael
Clarke.
While the pitch looked fairly batsman-friendly, the Aussies began poorly after openers, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DA-Warner-c1301 were given their marching orders pretty early in the game.
Both failed to find their feet, with Wade (5) perishing off http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KMDN-Kulasekara-c1802 in just the second over. His partner hung around for an uncharacteristic 7 off 13, before edging behind the stumps.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RT-Ponting-c2377 after the veteran batsman suffered the wrath of the selectors, following his mediocre performances in the ongoing tri-series.
While the Queenslander had some pretty big http://www.senore.com/Cricket/James-Peter-Hewitt-c66001 to fill, he stepped up to the challenge remarkably. As his confidence grew, the 26-year-old took the added task of anchoring the innings and went onto to score a whopping 104 (with 10 fours and 2 sixes) -
his first century at the international level.
His partner at the other end was http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120, who recovered from a hamstring injury to play a key part in helping his team to re-establish their dominancy. Their partnership produced 154 runs, and led the team to a total of 201, before the skipper departed on
a well made 72 - caught out at deep mid-wicket by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AD-Mathews-c913.
The skipper seemed to be troubled by a little soreness in his back near the end of his innings, which he attempted to relieve by stretching out on the field. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Stewart-Jonathan-Walters-c91389 followed suit but went back to a resounding applause from the crowd.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SL-Malinga-c2540 after amassing a useful 21, but it was his younger brother, David, whose 40 run unbeaten cameo gave the impetus at the end.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Brett-Lee-c48419 hung around to add a valuable 20 in the death overs, teaming up with Hussey to help his side set up 281.
The Sri Lankan bowlers managed satisfactory performances, with every bowler claiming wickets except for Thisara Perera, who also remained the most expensive of the bowlers.
The Sri Lankans face a tall task ahead of them but will be relying on their inform skipper to give them a solid platform upfront.
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